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trapped air to escape. Move the heat gun back and forth across the package until the shrink wrap
has evenly shrunk.
Loosening nuts and bolts
Point the hot air flow onto the nut or bolt you want to loosen. The heat will cause metal to expand and
the amount of heat exposure required to loosen the part will vary due to the type of metal and its
thickness. When the part has been heated sufficiently, stop the heating process. Using the proper
type and size wrench, loosen the nut or bolt.
Soldering copper pipe fittings
Do not attempt soldering copper pipe and pipe fittings intended for use without first investing the
required time to practice and master this plumbing skill. Only after successfully joining and then
testing the joints for strength and leakage should you attempt performing this operation.
1.
Attach the soldering or the reflector accessory tip to the heat gun nozzle.
2.
Deburr the pipe and fitting using a file of sandpaper. Then clean the inside of the fitting and the
exterior portion of the pipe to be fitted using a wire brush, sandpaper, or steel wool.
3.
Coat the clean exterior portion of pipe and the fitting’s interior with flux. Then slide the fitting over
the pipe with a twisting motion and ensure the fitting is aligned properly.
4.
Slip the accessory nozzle around the joint to be soldered. Using the high temperature setting
on the heat gun, heat the joint.
5.
When the flux bubbles and the copper becomes slightly lighter in color, apply the solder wire to
the perimeter of the joint and reposition the heat gun so excess solder does not drip into it.
Remove the heat gun when the solder begins to evenly flow into and around the joint. Then
wipe around the still hot joint with a damp rag to remove excess solder and flux.
6.
If the joint’s fitting is connecting more then one piece of pipe, all the pipe ends going into the
common fitting and fitting’s internal surfaces should be properly prepared and connected
together. Then all the joints should be soldered in a single operation. (When soldering a new
connection into a fitting already containing a finished pipe joint, you risk melting the previously
soldered joint and creating an eventual leak or failed joint.)
Soldering copper pipe fittings is commonly referred to as “sweating”. The solder joins and seals the
pipe to fitting via capillary action which draws, or “sweats”, the molten solder into the gap between
the pipe and fitting surfaces, creating a strong and leak free seal.
Defrosting frozen pipes
Attach the reflector tip to the heat gun nozzle. Slip the accessory nozzle tip around the frozen pipe
and move the heat gun back and forth, working inwards from the edge to the center until the part is
defrosted or thawed.
CAUTION
:
Do not attempt to defrost PVC, CPVC, or other plastic pipe with a heat gun.
